Bruce Hamilton

President, vice chair, teacher, change agent

Bruce Hamilton, president of the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership (GBMP), brings hands-on experience as a manager, teacher, and change agent. Prior to GBMP, Hamilton led efforts to transform United Electric Controls Co.’s production from a traditional batch factory to a single-piece-flow environment that has become an international showcase. Hamilton has spoken internationally on lean manufacturing, employee involvement, continuous improvement, and implementing change. Also, he has contributed to numerous texts ranging from visual control to variety reduction. Hamilton’s blog, Old Lean Dude, is an ongoing reflection on lean philosophy and practices, with an emphasis on keeping good jobs close to home.

Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:02
I’m Against It! When lean advocacy meets cautious objection
Wed, 09/17/2014 - 16:28
A recent viewing of a Marx Brothers film caused me to reflect on one of the questions I’m frequently asked: “How do you deal with people who are against lean?” My stock response is to quote Shigeo Shingo’s advice that “99 percent of objection is…
How We Learn Experientially!
Wed, 08/20/2014 - 13:56
While I am an unabashed proponent of learning by doing, I have a list of books that have been essential to me over the years as a framework for experiential learning. Most of these books were written before 1990, and one of the most insightful,…
Frankenstein Equivalents Improvements on paper can resemble monsters in the workplace
Wed, 07/30/2014 - 16:27
I was speaking with a friend about a recent downsizing at his church. After nine years, a popular priest had been reassigned to another parish. In an apparent effort to cut costs, a new priest would now split his time between two parishes in…
Lesser Gods But no less meaningful on our lean journey
Tue, 07/15/2014 - 10:09
I learned recently of the passing earlier this year of a person I worked with 20 years ago at my last job in manufacturing. Manny S. was a “lesser god,” a term which is meant neither to canonize nor demean him. He wasn’t perfect—not by a long shot—…
Addicted to Lean To be an effective advocate, sometimes you have to pace yourself
Wed, 06/25/2014 - 10:23
One of my early lessons in leading change came at the age of 19, while working in a program known as VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America. The lesson was this: Leading change is a marathon not a sprint. Sometimes you just have to pace yourself…
How’s That ‘Management by Inane Objectives’ Working for You? Crazy behavior will persist unless someone makes it desist
Wed, 06/04/2014 - 12:02
Aconversation with a lean friend reminded me of a story that I shared four years ago. It dealt with the consequences of crazy measures and how lack of management oversight will allow these measures to persist indefinitely. Absentee decision makers…
Always Made in America With lean techniques, and a great deal of pride
Thu, 05/08/2014 - 10:28
A couple of recent events have given me an opportunity to showcase a great American manufacturer. First, the events: 1. The 2014 Massachusetts Advance Manufacturing Summit, held April 29, 2014, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts,…
Permutations Low volume, high mix, endless combinations
Wed, 04/30/2014 - 10:09
For many years I worked for a manufacturer of pressure and temperature switches, a small company with a very big product selection. In our product catalog there were roughly three dozen distinct product families with hundreds of standard products,…
The Road to Lean Is yours paved with the wrong intentions?
Mon, 04/14/2014 - 12:55
An old TV series I watched recently reminded me of an experience I’ve had many times in my work. In this I Love Lucy episode, Lucy is ordered by Ricky to create a schedule to make her “more efficient.” A schedule board, posted in their home, is a “…
Lines What lines?
Tue, 03/25/2014 - 18:11
As any conference-goer can attest, the shortest distance between two points is not a straight line when that line is the lunch line. At lean conferences like the ones I’ve attended, it’s especially incongruous to hear stories all morning about…